Circuit breaker



March 14, 1939. A. J. A. PETERSON 2,150,537

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 2'7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTORMarch 14, 1939. J, A PETERSON 2,150,587

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- WITNESSES: INVENTOR6. 07%. Allh a JAI Petersbfl.

ATTORNE March 14, 1939. J, PETERSON 2,150,587

C IRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESSES: INVENTOR?%b;m, AZfreaJA Peterson ATTORNQ Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE to Westinghouse Elc ctric & Manufacturing Company, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 27, 1

19 Claims.

The invention relates to circuit breakers in general and moreparticularly to solenoid operating mechanisms for circuit breakers.

To secure high speed reclosing of a circuit breaker it is desirable toprovide for tripping the breaker by a non-trip free tripping means whichmaintains an operative connection between the breaker and the closingcore so that the breaker is under the immediate control of the closingmeans. This is permissible, however, only when the breaker has beenstanding closed with the closing coil deenergized for some time. Undersuch conditions it is a relatively simple matter-to provide foradditional opening acceleration to compensate for the weight of theclosing core so that the circuit interrupting time can be kept withinprescribed limits. If the breaker is reclosed against a fault condition,ii; sirable to trip the breaker by a trip free tr r means, i. e.,free'of the closing core so that the breaker opening will not beretarded by the weight of the core plus the magnetic drag caused by theflux which is stillpresent in the core and magnet frame. The magneticdrag is quite ap-l, preciable and may delay the opening time by severalcycles.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved circuitbreaker operating mechanism for securing high speed opening and closingof a circuit breaker.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breakeroperating mechanism which is automatically operable to provide fornon-trip free tripping of the breaker if a fault condition occurs whenthere is substantially no magnetic flux present in the closing means,and trip free tripping of the breaker if the fault condition occurs whenthere is any appreciable magnetic flux present in the closing means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breakeroperating mechanism embodying a trip free tripping means for efiectingopening of the breaker free of any restraint by the closing means and anon-trip free tripping means for effecting opening of the breaker onlywhen the closing means is deenergized but without releasing theoperative connection of the breaker to the closing means, and a meansresponsive directly to the magnetic flux of the closing means forautomatically selecting which ofthe tripping means will be efiective totrip the breaker.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breakeroperating mechanism as previously described in which the means resss,Serial No. 210,309 (01. 200-98) sponsive to the magnetic flux of theclosing means comprises a magnetic selector lever which preventsoperation of the trip free tripping means only when there issubstantially no magnetic flux present in the closing means, and permitsoperation of the trip free tripping means whenver any appreciablemagnetic flux is present in the closing means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breakeroperating mechanism 10 as previously described, which is simple,reliable in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to structure and operation, together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodi ment of theinvention whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a circuit breakeroperatingmechanism constructed in accordance with-the invention,

the mechanism being shown in the closed latched position with theclosing solenoid deenergized;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating mecha nism shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline IIIIII of Fig. 2 showing the tripcoil plunger and the rocking tripbar for operating either of the two tripping latches of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a partly schematic view of the operating mechanism and circuitbreaker showing the relative positions of the parts immediatelyfollowing a tripping operation efiected by the nontrip free latch; and

.Fig. 5 is a partly schematic view similar to Fig. 4 showing therelative positions of the parts immediately following a trippingoperation effected by thetrip free latch.

The present invention constitutes an improvement and further developmentof the circuit breaker mechanism disclosed and claimed in the copendingapplication of -J. B. MacNeill, Serial No. 209,970, iiled May 25, 1 938,and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 9 indicates generally afabricated steel frame which may be constructed in any suitable. mannerto support the various parts of the cir-' cuit breaker operatingmechanism.

A closing solenoid II is mounted on the lower portion of the frame 9 andcomprises a movable 'core l3, a cooperating stationary core I5 and anoperating winding H which, when energized, pulls the movable core |3downwardly to effect a closing operation of the circuit breaker.

A lever mechanism of the trip-free type indicatec generally at H! ismounted on the upper portion of the frame and this mechanism serves tonormally connect the' circuitbre'aker with the closing solenoid. Thelever mechanism comprises a closing lever 2| which is pivoted at itsright-hand end on the upper portion of the frame 9, and a breaker lever23 which is pivoted at its left-hand end to the free end of the closinglever 2|. The closing lever 2| consists of a pair of spaced parallelouter levers 25 (Fig. 2) which have their right-hand ends pivoted abouta common axis by means of a pair of aligned pivot studs 21 carried bytwo spaced vertical plates 29 which form a part of the frame 9. Thebreaker lever 23 consists of a pair of spaced parallel inner levers 3|which have their left-hand ends pivoted on a pivot pin 33 carried by andconnecting the free ends of the outer levers 25. The inner levers 3|which form the breaker lever are spaced so as to be movable into thespace between the outer levers 25 which form the closing lever. Theright-hand end of the breaker lever 23 carries a trip tree roller 35which is mounted on a pin carried by and connecting the free ends of theinner lever 3|.

'Ilhe circuit breaker which may be of any suitable construction is shownschematically in Figs. 4 and 5 as comprising stationary main and arcingcontacts 31 and 39 and a movable bridging contact assemblage 4| whichconsists of a main bridging contact 43 for bridging the main stationarycontacts 31, and a pair of spring biased movable arcing contacts 45 forengaging the sta tionary arcing contacts 39. The arcing contacts arearranged to engage prior to engagement, of the main contacts duringclosing of the circuit breaker, and to separate following separation ofthe main contacts during opening of the circuit breaker. The movablecontact assemblage is carried by a rod 45 which is connected to themidportion of the breaker lever 23 through the agency of a pivoted lever41 and an operating rod 49, the lower end of the operating rod 49 beingpivotally connected to the breaker lever 23 by means of a pivot pin 5|which extends between the inner levers 3|. The circuit breaker is biasedto open circuit position by an opening spring 53.

The breaker lever 23 is biased upwardly by the opening bias of thecircuit breaker, and the trip free roller 35 carried by the free end ofthe lever 23 is normally engaged and releasably-held in a position ofalignment with the pivot axis 21 of the closing lever 2| by a trip freelatching mechanism indicated generally at 55. When the trip free roller35 is held in latched position, the breaker lever 23 is operativelyconnected to the closing lever 2| for movement thereby. The closin'glever 2| is connected to the movable core I3 of the closing solenoid IIby means of a pair of connecting links 51, and the free end of theclosing lever is adapted to be releasably held in closed position asshown in Fig. 1 by means of a non-trip free latch mechanism indicatedgenerally at 59 which engages a non-trip free roller 6| carried by thepivot pin 33.

The closing lever 2| is biased in a clockwise direction about its fixedpivot axis 21 by means of a pair of retrieving compression springs 63which are disposed between each of the outer levers 25 and an uppersupporting plate of the frame 9.

When the trip free roller 35 carried by the free end of the breakerlever 23 is released by a releasing operation of the trip free latchmechanism 55, the operative connection between the circuit breaker andthe closing lever 2| is released and the breaker is moved to opencircuit position under the influence of its opening spring free of anyrestraint by the closing means. The opening movement of the circuitbreaker causes the breaker lever 23 to rotate in a counter-clockwisedirection toward the open position shown in Fig. 5 about the pivot pin33 which is held down by the non-trip free latch mechanism 59. Thebreaker lever 23 during a portion of its opening movement, effects anautomatic releasing operation of the non-trip free latching mechanism 59to cause release of the free end of the closing lever 2|. For thispurpose the breaker lever 23 is provided with a projecting pin 55adjacent its pivoted end which, during a portion of the opening movementof the lever 23, engages and rotates a pivoted bell crank releasinglever 61 to effect release of the non-trip free latching mechanism 59and consequently the free end of the closing lever 2|. The bell crankreleasing lever 61 is pivoted on a pivot pin 91 and is biased incounter-clockwise direction by means of a coil spring 68 interposedbetween the upper support ing plate of the frame and a projection on thelever 61.

When the free end of the closing lever 2| is 1 thus released by thereleasing lever, the retrieving springs 53 rotate the closing lever in aclockwise direction about its fixed pivot axis 21, and since the pivotpin 5| which connects the breaker operating rod 49 with the breakerlever 23 becomes stationary when the breaker reaches open position, theclockwise rotation of the closing lever 2| by the retrieving springseffects a clockwise rotation of the breaker lever 23 about the piVOt pin5| as a center to return the trip free roller 35 into latchingengagement with the trip free latch mechanism 55. At this point the twolevers 2| and 23 are in the position shown in Fig. 4 and since the tripfree roller is relatched by the trip free latch mechanism 55, thebreaker lever 23 is again operatively connected to the closing lever 2|and through the same to the movable core l3 of the closing solenoid.

When the closing solenoid I! is energized, the two levers 2| and 23 arerotated in a counterclockwise direction about the common axis of thepivot studs 21 and the trip free roller 35 to the closed position shownin Fig. 1 to eflfect closing of the circuit breaker. When the two leversreach the closed position the non-trip free roller 5| carried by the pin33 is reengaged and latched by the non-trip free latch mechanism 59.

The circuit breaker may also be tripped open by a releasing operation ofthe non-trip free latching mechanism 59. A releasing operation of thenon-trip free latch mechanism allows the circuit breaker to be moved toopen position by its opening spring and this movement causes the twolevers 2| and 23 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the commonaxis of the pivot studs 21 and the trip free roller 35 to the openposition shown in Fig. 4. In this instance, how ever, the circuitbreaker remains operatively connected to the closing lever 2| andthrough the same to the movable core of the closing solenoid I so thatthe breaker can be immediately reclosed by energization of the closingsolenoid The trip free latch mechanism 55 (Fig. 1) comprises a mainlatch member 69 pivoted on a pivot pin II carried by a part of the frameand is'biased by means of a spring I3 to a'latc-hing position in whichit engages and restrains the trip free roller 35 in the position shownin Fig; 1. A block I5 carried by the frame serves as a seat for one endof the latch spring I3,-and this block is provided with a surface 11which forms a stop to prevent movement of the latch 69 beyond itslatching position. In order to hold the latch 69 in latching positionagainst the upward bias exerted on the breaker lever 23, a secondaryauxiliary latch I9 is provided. The latch I9 is pivoted by means of apin 8| carried by a portion of the frame and is biased to latchingposition by means of a light spring 83. The nose of the latch I9 isprovided with a substantially right angled notch 85 for engaging theupper corner of the main latch 59. The auxiliary latch I9 in latchingposition effectively locks the main latch 69 in its latching position.The auxiliary latch I9 is adapted to be moved in a clockwise directionabout its pivot axis 8| to effect a releasing operation of the latchmechanism by a tripping means which will be hereinafter described. v

When the auxiliary latch 19 is released, the trip free roller 35 movesupwardly under the opening bias of the breaker forcing the main latch 69in a clockwise direction until the roller 35 clears the nose of thelatch. The spring I3 then returns the main latch 69 to latchingposition. The main latch 89 is provided with a rounded nose to allow theroller 35 to force the latch back and clear the same during resetting orretrieving of the breaker lever 23 and the roller 35. As soon as thetrip free roller 35 has cleared the nose of the latch 69 during aretrieving operation,

the spring I3 returns the latch 59 to latching position and theauxiliary latch I9 returns to its latching position to engage and holdthe main latch 69.

Inorder to ensure complete retrieving of the breaker lever 23 and thetrip free roller 35 to latching position, it is necessary thatthe-auxiliary latch I9 be held in its released position free of the mainlatch 69 until the trip free roller has been returned to its latchingposition. Otherwise the trip free roller would jam against the roundednose of the main latch 69 during a retrieving operation. For holding theauxiliary latch I9 in its released position during the release andretrieving of the breaker lever 23, there is provided a holding lever 81pivoted on the .pivot pin 8| and biased in a clockwise direction by aspring 89 which is slightly stronger than the latch spring 83. The lever81 is provided with one extending arm 9| which lies in the path of thefinal retrieving movement of the free end of the breaker lever 23. Whenthe trip free roller 35 is in latching position, the free end of thebreaker lever 23 holds the lever 81 down in an inoperative position toallow the auxiliary latch I9 to assume its latching position. However,when the trip free roller moves upwardly following a tripping operationby the latch mechanism 55, the holding lever 81 rotates in a clockwisedirection, and a cross pin 93 carried thereby engages and holds theauxiliary latch I9 in its released position until the trip free rollerhas,

been retrieved to its latching position.

The non-trip free latch mechanism 59 is substantially similar to thetrip free latch mechanlsm previously described. The latch mechanism 59comprises a main latch 95 pivoted on the pin 91 carried by part of theframe, and the latch is biased by means of a spring 99 to latchingposition in which it engages and restrains the non-trip free roller 6|carried by the closing lever 2|. A block IOI carried by the frame servesas a support for one end of the spring 99, and this block is providedwith a stop surface I03 for preventing movement of the latch 95 beyondits latching position. The main latch 95 is held in latching position bymeans of an auxiliary latch I05. The auxiliary latch I05 is pivoted on apin I0I carried by a portion of the frame, and the latch I05 is biasedto latching position by means of a light spring I09. The nose of thelatch I05 is provided with a substantially rectangular notch III forengaging the upper corner of the main latch 95 to lock the main latchinlatching position. The mainlatch 95 is provided with a rounded nose topermit it to be forced back and cleared by the non-trip free roller 6|during closing movement of the closing lever 2|. In order to permit theclosing lever 2| to be moved to its completely closed position and to berelatched by the latch mechanism 59, there is provided a holding lever II3 which is similar to the holding lever 81 of the trip free latchmechanism 55. The holding lever H3 is pivoted on the pin I01 and isbiased-in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring II5 which isslightly stronger than the latch spring I09. The lever H3 is providedwith an arm III which extends into the path of the final closingmovement of the free end of the closing lever 2|. When the closing lever2| is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the lever II 3 is helddown in an inoperative position to permit return of the auxiliary latchI05 to latching position. However, when the free end of the closinglever 2| moves upwardly following a tripping operation of the latchmember I05, the holding lever I I3 rotates in a counter-clockwisedirection and a cross pin I20 carried thereby engages and holds theauxiliary latch I05 in released position clear of the main latch 95until the closing lever 2| has been returned to the fully closed andlatched position by the closing solenoid I I.

Both of the latching mechanisms 55 and 59 are adapted to be operated bya single trip coil 9 (Fig. 1). The trip coil H9 is mounted on a portionof the frame beneath the trip-free latch mechanism 55 and is providedwith a trip plunger |2|. The operating winding of the trip coil isadapted to be energized in response to predetermined overload conditionsin the circuit controlled-by the breaker or in response to any otherconditions under which tripping of the breaker isdesired. Energizationof the trip coil causes upward movement of the trip plunger I2I. Arocking trip bar I23 (Fig. 3) rests freely on a plate I25 carried by theframe above the trip coil H9. The plate I25 is provided with an openingI2'I for receiving the upper end of the trip plunger I2I and withsuitable guides |29 for guiding the trip bar I23 and for preventinglongitudinal and lateral displacement thereof. The trip plunger I2I,when moved upwardly, engages the under side of the trip bar I23 to causerocking movement of the bar about whichever end is held againstmovement. The auxiliary latch I9 of the trip free latch mechanism 55 isdisposed over one end of the trip bar I23 and the free end |3| of apivoted bell crank lever I33 is disposed over the opposite end of thetrip bar 23. The bell crank lever I33 is pivoted intermediate its endson the pivot pin 8| carried by the frame 9, and the upper end of thebell crank lever is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin I3I tothe right-hand end of a horizontal connecting link I39. The left-handend of the connecting link I39 engages the upper end of the releasinglever 61 through the agency of a pin and slot connection Hi.

If the trip plunger I2I is moved upwardly at a time when the bell cranklever I33 is prevented frcm moving in a clockwise direction, the upwardmovement of the trip plunger I2I will cause the rocking trip bar I23 torock about its end which engages the free end I3I of the bell cranklever I33 to effect upward movement of the auxiliary latch I9 to causerelease of the trip free latch mechanism 55. On the other hand, if thetrip plunger I2I is moved upwardly at a time when the auxiliary latch I9is prevented from moving in a clockwise direction, the upward movementof the plunger I2I causes the rocking trip bar I23 to rock about its endwhich engages the auxiliary latch I9 to effect c1ockwise rotation of thebell crank lever I33. The clockwise rotation of the bell crank lever I33moves the horizontal connecting link I39 towards the right and rotatesthe releasing lever 61 in a clockwise direction to eflect release of thelatch I05 and the non-trip free latch mech' anism 59. If neither thebell crank lever I33 or the auxiliary latch 19 are held againstmovement, the upward movement of the plunger I2I eii'ects release ofboth the trip free and the,

non-trip free latch mechanisms.

If an overload condition occurs in the circuit controlled by the breakerwhen the breaker has been standing closed and the solenoid IIdeenergized for a suflicient length of time for the residual flux tohave died down to a point where there is substantially no flux presentin the solenoid, it is desirable that the circuit breaker be trippedonly by means of the non-trip i'ree latch mechanism 59 because when thebreaker is tripped by the non-trip free latch mechanism 59, it is movedto open circuit position without releasing the operative connectionbetween the breaker and the closing lever or solenoid. This permits thecircuit breaker to be reclosed in the shortest possible time. Theclosing solenoid may be arranged to be energized substantiallysimultaneously with the trip coil so that it will have developedsuflicient flux to halt opening movement of the breaker and begin toreclose the breaker as soon as the arcs drawn between the contacts ofthe breaker have been extinguished, without allowing the breaker tocontinue to the full open circuit position, as disclosed in thecopending application of J. B. MacNeill, Serial No. 209,970, filed May25, 1938. However, if the overload condition occurs at a time when thesolenoid is in an energized condition or when there is still anappreciable quantity of residual magnetic flux present in the solenoid,it is important that the breaker be tripped open by means of the tripfree latch mechanism 55 in order to permit high speed opening of thebreaker unretarded by any opposing force or magnetic drag of the closingsolenoid II.

In order to provide for tripping of the breaker by the proper latchmechanism in accordance with the condition of the closing solenoid thereis provided a means responsive directly to the magnetic flux of theclosing solenoid for automatically selecting the proper latch mechanism55 or 59 for operation by the trip coil II 9. The automatic selectingmeans comprises a magnetic selector lever I45 which is pivotedintermediate its ends on the pivot pin II. The lever I45 has ayoke-shape portion I41 of magnetic material at the end of one of itsarms, which is disposed directly over the winding I1 and the magneticframe of the closing solenoid II so as to be traversed and influenced bya portion of the magnetic flux of the solenoid. The selector lever I45is biased in a clockwise direction to a normal nnattracted position bymeans of a pair of springs I49 which are interposed between the yokeportion I4I of the lever and the upper end plate of the solenoid II. Theright-hand arm I53 of the selector lever I45 is provided with alaterally oii'set end or projectionI55 which is disposed directly abovethe auxiliary latch member I9 of the'trip free latch mechanism 55.

When the solenoid IIis deenergized and when there is substantially nomagnetic flux present in the solenoid which would retard openingmovement of the closing lever 2|, the springs I49 maintain the selectorlever I45 in the unattracted position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, in whichposition the projection I55 thereof engages and holds the auxiliarylatch I9 of the trip free latch mechanism 55 in latching position. Thesprings I49 are of suflicient strength to overcome the force of the tripplunger I 2| and hold the auxiliary latch I9 in latching position toprevent operation of the trip free latch mechanism 55 by the operationof the trip coil I I9. If an overload condition occurs under theseconditions, that is, with the magnetic selector lever in the unattractedposition, the upward movement of the trip plunger I2I causes the tripbar I23 to be rocked about the end thereof engaged by the latch 19, torotate the bell crank lever I33 in a clockwise direction. The clockwiserotation of the bell crank lever I33 moves the horizontal link I39toward the right to cause clockwise rotation of the-releasing lever 57and consequently release of the non-trip free latch mechanism 59. Itwill thus be seen that the occurrence of an overload when the selectorlever I45 is in the unattracted position prevents operation of the tripfree latch mechanism 55 and allows the operation of the trip coil toeffect tripping of the breaker by means of the non-trip free latchmechanism 59.

When the solenoid is in energized condition or whenever there is anyappreciable magnetic flux present in the solenoid which would retardopening movement of the closing lever 2|, the mag-.

netic flux maintains the selector lever I45 in the attracted positionshown in Fig. 5. In the attracted position'of the magnetic selectorlever I45, the projection I55 thereof is maintained in the raisedposition clear of the auxiliary latch I9 so as to permit operation ofthe trip free latch mechanism 55. In its raised position the projectionI55 engages a lug I51 carried by the horizontal link I39 to preventright-hand movement of the link I39 and consequently clockwise move mentof the bell crank lever I33. If an overload condition occurs under theseconditions, that is, when the magnetic selector lever is in theattracted position due to the presence of magnetic flux in the solenoidII, the upward movement of the trip plunger I2I will cause the trip barI23 7 to rock about the end thereof which engages the arm I3I of thebell crank lever I33, to cause the trip bar to move the auxiliary latch19 to re leased position since the bell crank lever I33 is preventedfrom being moved in a clockwise direction. Thus, the upward movement ofthe plunger 15 l2! under theseconditions effects a tripping operation ofthe breaker by means of the trip free latch mechanism 55.

The pin and slot connection Ml between the 5 left-hand end of thehorizontal link I 39 and the releasing lever ti serves to allow thereleasing lever 6'? to be automatically moved to the released positionduring the upward movement of the breaker lever 23 to effect release ofthe closing lever and retrieving of the trip free roller 35. even thoughthe link I39 is prevented from being moved towards the right by theengagement of the projection 555 with the lug Hill.

In order to prevent the magnetic selector lever from forcing theauxiliary latch ill down to latching position in engagement with themain latch til at times when the trip free roller 3%; is away fromlatching position, the arm I53 of the lever Mt is provided with aninterlock projection so [i -J9, which is adapted to be engaged by ashort arm-till oi the holding lever ill! when the holding lever 8?! isin the raised position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The circuit breaker and mechanism of the present invention may becontrolled by any suitable circuit breaker reclosing control system as,for example, the system disclosed in the copending application oi J. l5.MacNeill, ilerial No. 20.99%, filed May 25, 1938.

The operation of the circuit breaker and mechs n is briefly as follows.an overload cen= ion occurs when the mechanism is in the posh tron shownin Fig. i, that is, with the closing solenoid deenergized and having noapnreci 3 able magnetic present therein, the upward,

move ent of the trip plunger 512i by the opera tion of the trip coil H9ei'lects release of the non t io free latch mechanism and the free onethe closing lever "Under these condi no magnetic selector lever M5 ismain $912190; in unattractec'l position by the springs 3 39 to preventrelease of the trip iree latch mecha= The breaker moves to open circuitposh tic-n iinc'ier the influence of opening spring and the two levers2i are rotated to e position hown in d, the breaker remainingoperatlvely connected to the movable core ill 0 the closing solenoid.if-men the closing sole noid is energized to reclose the breaker, thetwo levers ill rotated a counter-cinch Wise direction ahont the commonpivot axis the studs the free roller which is held latched, to theclosed position shown in l to effect closing the cir'coit breaker. eenergiaation oi closing solenoid to re close the breaker also causes thenmgnetic se lector lever M5 to be rotated to attracted posi= tion freethe trip tree latch mechanism for operation by the trip coil its, and toprevent clockwise movement of the hell crank lever 933 by the trip coill l The magnetic selector lever M5. is maintained in attracted positionby the magnetic flux after the solenoid {ii is deener= glzed untiltheresidual magnetic flux been 7 reduced to substantially zero value. itthe fault condition causing the overload is stillpresent duringreclosing of the breaker, when the are ing contacts engage, the tripcoil Mil-Will again be energized and the trip plunger till movedupwardly; this time to effect release of the trip the closing lever 2and the circuit breaker moves to open circuit position under theinfluence of its opening spring free of any restraint by the closingmeans. The breaker lever is moved in a counterclockwise direction aboutthe pivot 6 pin 33 and during a portion of its opening movement theprojecting pin 85 engages and rotates the releasing lever ti to efiectrelease of the non-- trip free latch mechanism 59 and the free end ofthe closing lever it which has been brought to the closed and latchedposition by the closing operation. When the non-trip free latchmechanism t9 and the closing lever it are released, the retrievingsprings t3 rotate the closing lever in a clockwise direction about thefixed pivot axis ii to return the trip free roller 3% to latchmgposition, where it is reengaged by the trip iree latch mechanism ill.The energization of the closing solenoid to reclose the circuit breakerafter'the trip free roller has been relatchecl rotates both levers 2iand it, together in a counter= clockwise direction about the pivot axis2T7 to the closed position to efiect closing of the circuit breaker. iiithe fault condition causing the over-: load has in the meantime beencleared, the free end of the closing lever is moved to the fully closedposition and is relatched by the non-trip free latch mechanism and remains closed. It will thus be seen that the invent-on provides animproved circuit breaker o a which operable to iii the closing solenoid,and wine" the breaker tree of any restr means the fault conditlo is anappreciable in the closing sole-n provides a hrealser be reclosed timethe overload 6021114 on which ca:

or the breaker occurs en the e nreciable magnetic flux j; solenoid whichwould re and yet cordance with the that various detailsthereof may be infrom the spirit oi the inventi therefore, that the ancenclecl claibroadest reasonable iroretation pennissihle in the light or the prior at1 claim as my invention:

1. in combination, a circuit breaker, electro magnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip ping means for eilecting one: of said hrealzerindependently or the energized condition of said closing means,additional tripping; means for sheeting opening of said breaker onlywhen said closing means is deenerglaecl, and means responsive directlyto the magnetic flux oi said closing means for automatically selectingwhich of said tripping means shall he effective to trip said breaker.

2. In combinations circuit breaker, electro= magnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free to tripping means operable in response topredetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breakerindependently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means operable in response topredetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breaker only whensaid closing means is deenergized, and means responsive directly to themagnetic flux of said closing means for preventing operation of saidtrip free tripping means only when there is no appreciable magnetic fluxin said closing means.

3. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means operable in response topredetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breakerindependently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means operable in response to predetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breaker only when saidclosing means is deenergized, and means responsive directly to themagnetic flux in said closing means for causing tripping of said breakerin response to said predetermined conditions to be effected only by saidnon-trip free tripping means when there is no appreciable magnetic fluxin said closing means, and by said trip free tripping means where thereis any appreciable magnetic fiuxin said closing means.

4 In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means normally effecting an operativeconnection between said breaker and said closing means, said trippingmeans being operable in response to predetermined conditions to effectopening of said breaker independently of the energized condition of saidclosing means, additional non-trip free tripping means releasablyholding said breaker closed while it is operatively connected to saidclosing means, said nontrip free tripping means being operable inresponse to predetermined conditions to effect opening of said breakeronly when said closing means is deenergized, and means responsivedirectly to the magnetic flux in said closing means for causing trippingof said breaker in response to said predetermined conditions to beeffected only by said non-trip free tripping means when there is noappreciable magnetic flux in said closing means, and by said trip freetripping means when there is any appreciable magnetic flux in saidclosing means.

5. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means normally effecting an operativeconnection between said breaker and said closing means, said trippingmeans being oper able to effect opening of said breaker free of anyrestraint by said closing means irrespective of the presence of anyamount of magnetic flux in said closing means, additional non-trip freetripping means for releasably holding said breaker closed while it isoperatively connected to said closing means, said non-trip free trippingmeans being operable to eifect opening of said breaker while it remainsoperatively connected to said closing means but only when said closingmeans is deenergized, and means responsive directly to the magnetic fluxin said closing means for causing a tripping operation of said breakerto be effected only by said trip free tripping means when there is noappreciable magnetic flux present in said closing means, and by saidtrip free tripping means whomever there is any appreciable magnetic fluxpresent in said closing means.

6. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means for effecting opening of saidbreaker independently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means for efiecting opening of saidbreaker only when said closing means is deenersized and means includinga magnetic selector lever responsive directly to the magnetic flux ofsaid closing means for automatically selecting which of said trippingmeans shall be effective to trip said breaker.

'7. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means for eflecting opening of saidbreaker independently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means for effecting opening of saidbreaker only when said closing means is deenergized, and means includinga member having at least a portion of magnetic material responsivedirectly to the magnetic flux of said closing means for causing atripping operation of said breaker to be effected only by said non-tripfree tripping means when there is no appreciable magnetic flux presentinsaid closing means, and by said trip free tripping means whenever thereis any appreciable magnetic flux present in said closing means.

8. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means for effecting opening of saidbreaker independently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means for effecting opening of saidbreaker only when said closing means is deenergized, and meansindependent of said closing means responsive to the magnetic flux ofsaid closing means for automatically selecting which of said trippingmeans shall be effective to trip said breaker.

9. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free t'ripping'means for effecting opening of saidbreaker independently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means for effecting opening of saidbreaker onlywhen said closing means is deenergized, and meansindependent of said,closing means responsive to the magnetic flux ofsaid closing means for causing a tripping operation of said breaker tobe effected only by said non-trip free tripping means when there is noappreciable magnetic flux present in said closing means, and by saidtrip free tripping means when there is any appreciable magnetic fluxpresent in said closing means.

10. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, trip free tripping means operable in response topredetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breakerindependently of the energized condition of said closing means,additional non-trip free tripping means operable in response topredetermined conditions for effecting opening of said breaker only whensaid closing means is deenergized, and means including a movable memberhaving at least a portion of magnetic material responsive to themagnetic flux of said closing means for causing the tripping of saidbreaker in response to said predetermined conditions to be effected onlyby said non-trip free tripping means when there is no appreciablemagnetic flux in said closing means, and by said trip free trippingmeans when there is any appreciable magnetic flux in said closing means.

11. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic .olosing meansfor said breaker, trip free tripping means normally effecting anoperative connection between said breaker and said closing means, saidtripping means being operable to effect opening of said breaker free ofany.restraint by said closing means irrespective of the presence of anyamount of magnetic flux in said closing means, additional non-trip freetripping means for releasably holding said breaker closed while it isoperatively connected to said closing means, said non-trip free trippingmeans being operable to effect opening of said breaker while it remainsoperatively connected to said closing means but,

only when said closing means is deenergized, and means .including amovable member having at least a portion of magnetic material responsiveto the magnetic flux of said closing means for causing the tripping ofsaid breaker to be effected only by said non-trip free trippingmeans-when there is no appreciable magnetic flux in said closing means,and by said trip free tripping means when there is appreciable magneticflux in said closin means.

12. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, a first latch releasable to cause opening of said breakerfree of any restraint by said closing means and irrespective of thepresence of any amount of magnetic flux therein, a second latchreleasable to effect opening of said breaker while it is operativelyconnected to said closing means but only when said closing means isdeenergized, trip means operable in response to predetermined conditionsfor releasing said latches, and means including a movable member havinga portion of magnetic material responsive to the magnetic flux of saidclosing means for automatically selecting which of said latches will bereleased in response to said predetermined conditions.

13. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, a first latch releasable to cause opening of said breakerfree of any restraint by said closing means and irrespective of thepresence of any amount of magnetic flux therein, a second latchreleasable to efiect opening of said breaker while it is operativelyconnected to said closing means but on y when said closing means isdeenergized, trip means operable in response to predetermined conditionsfor releasing said latches, and means including a movable member havingat least a portion of magnetic material responsive to the fiux of saidclosing means for preventing the release of said first latch only whenthere is no appreciable magnetic flux in said closing means.

14. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, a first latch normally and releasably connecting saidbreaker to said closing means, said latch being releasable to effectopening of said breaker free of said closing means, a second latch forreleasably holding said breaker closed while it is operatively connectedto said closing means, said second latch being releasable to effectopening of said breaker while it remains connected to said closing meansbut only when said closing means is deenergized, trip means operable inresponse to predetermined conditions for releasing said" latches,

,{and means including a movable member having at "'"least a portion ofmagnetic material responsive to the magnetic flux of said closing meansfor latch normally and releasably connecting said breaker'to saidclosing means, said latch being releasable to efiect opening of saidbreaker free of said closing means, a second latch for releasablyholding said breaker closed while it is operatively connected to saidclosing means, said second latch being releasable to efiect opening ofsaid breaker while it remains connect d to said closing means but onlywhen said closi g means is deenergized, a single trip coil operable inresponse to predetermined conditions to release said latches, andinterlocking means including a movable member having at least a portionof magnetic material responsive to the magnetic flux of said closingmeans for preventing release of said first latch by said trip coil whenthere is less than a predetermined amount of magnetic flux in saidclosing means and for permitting release of said first latch when thereis more than said predetermined amount of fiux in said closing means.

16. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open position, closingmeans for said breaker comprising a closing lever and a solenoid formoving said lever to close said breaker, a first latch normally andreleasably connecting said breaker to said closing lever, said latchbeing releasable to cause opening of said breaker free of said closingmeans, a second latch for releasably holding said closing lever inbreaker closed position, trip means operable in response to prede-.

termined conditions to release said latches, and means including amovable member having at least a portion of magnetic material responsiveto the magnetic flux of said solenoid for causing the operation of saidtrip means to effect release of said second latch only if saidpredetermined conditions occur when there is less than a predeterminedamount of magnetic flux present in said solenoid.

17. In combination, a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means forsaid breaker, two tripping means operable in response to predeterminedconditions to eflect opening of said breaker, one of said tripping meansbeing operable to eifect opening of said breaker free of any restraintby said closing means irrespective of the presence of any amount ofmagnetic flux in said closing means, and the other of said trippingmeans being operable to effect opening of said breaker while it remainsconnected to said closing means but only when said closing means isdeenergized, and means including a selector lever having at least aportion of magnetic material responsive to a released position to effectopening of said breaker independently of the condition of said closingmeans, additional tripping means for effecting opening of said breakeronly when said closing means is deenergized, means including a movablemember responsive to the magnetic flux of said closing means forautomatically selecting which of said tripping means will be effectiveto trip said breaker, said member being movable to a holding positionwhen there is no appreciable flux in said closing means in whichposition it engages and holds said latch in latching position, andmovable to a second position when there is any appreciable flux in saidclosing means to permit movement of said latch to released position, andinterlocking means carried in part by said movable member for preventingmovement of said member to holding position when said latch is inreleased position.

19; In a circuit breaker, electromagnetic closing means for saidbreakentripping means including a latch movable from a latching positionto a released position to effect opening of said breaker, a movablemember responsive to the flux

